Running back Tyler Gaffney, who last played for the Cardinal in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, is returning to campus to work on his degree and to use his final year of football eligibility after spending a season in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Gaffney was drafted in the 24th round by the Pirates and spent last season in the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League. An outfielder for the State College Spikes, Gaffney batted .297 in 38 games, collecting 33 hits (six doubles, five triples) and 11 stolen bases.

As a junior at Stanford in 2011, Gaffney ran for 449 yards and seven touchdowns and added a touchdown reception. He has 791 career rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

“This is the ideal time for me to return to the Farm and complete the work toward my degree from Stanford University," said Gaffney, who is pursuing a double major of sociology and psychology. “As a freshman at Stanford in 2009, I had three goals: play Football and Baseball at Stanford and receive my degree. Two of the three have been accomplished; I eagerly look forward to completing the third.”

Gaffney's return should help alleviate the loss of starting running back Stepfan Taylor.

Gaffney is the second Stanford player to spurn the Pirates recently. Pittsburgh drafted pitcher Mark Appel eighth overall last year. But Appel was the only unsigned player among 31 first-round picks last year, turning down the Pirates' $3.8 million offer in the first year of new restrictions designed to slow draft spending. He is a senior at Stanford now.

Gaffney will compete with Anthony Wilkerson, Remound Wright, Ricky Seale and Barry Sanders for playing time next season.

"I'm very proud of Tyler Gaffney making the decision to come back and finish his degree, while also rejoining the football team," Stanford head coach David Shaw said. "Tyler's first three years at Stanford, he contributed to a lot of big games and a lot of big wins. He will join a talented and diverse group of running backs, which as a unit we believe is as good as any in the nation."